Health Briefs: Sept. 18

Published: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 7:25 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 7:25 a.m.

ASHEVILLE

Support group for those with eating disorders

Balance Point Collaborative at 263 Haywood St., Suite 100, in Asheville is hosting “New Voice,” a peer-led support group for those in recovery from eating disorders, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month.

Every month, speakers will share their stories of hope and success. Speakers include staff, former clients and community members. There will also be topic-centered and open discussion among participants.

The recovery support groups are run by handselected peers who have shown a willingness and desire to continue their path to recovery and have personal experience with eating disorders.

For more information, call 828-348-6922 or visit www.balancepointnc.com.

BREVARD

Parkinson’s group fundraiser on Sunday

The second Brevard-Hendersonville Parkinson’s Support Group’s Team Fox Celebration for the Cure will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Thomas Hall, behind Whittington Pfohl Auditorium at Brevard Music Center.

The festivities in Thomas Hall will include the music of Terry Wetton. Kiwi Gelato will be on site.

Chris Sparks, who compiled a book of cartoons in honor of his friend, Richard Thompson, who has Parkinson’s, will autograph his books. “Cul de Sac” has been nominated for many book/cartoon awards and is the force behind the Michael J. Fox Foundation Team Cul de Sac.

Raffle drawings begin at 3 p.m. Included in the prizes are two tickets to the Biltmore House, two tickets to the Oct. 20 Carolina Panthers game against the St. Louis Rams, a Green River Adventure for two, half-day guided fly fishing for two, a gift basket from Dugan’s pub valued at $140, Connestee Falls golf for four and club cash for lunch, $75 gift certificate to the Purple Onion in Saluda and gift certificates from businesses in Brevard, Hendersonville and Asheville.

In past years, the group has raised more than $25,000 to be matched by a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The foundation keeps 88 percent of all funds raised for Parkinson’s Research. Donations can be made online at www2.michael jfox.org/goto/B-HPDSG walk or send to B-HPDSG, P.O. Box 1092, Hendersonville, NC 28739. Make checks payable to MJFF (Michael J. Fox Foundation). Call 828-862-8820 for more information.

BRCHS earns Gold Seal from Joint Commission

Blue Ridge Community Health Services has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval by demonstrating compliance with national standards for health care quality and safety as a primary care medical home.

All subsequent events will take place in Henderson County and will include a tour of Bullington Gardens, balance screenings, Fletcher Community Park Energi Fitness Tutorial and Walk, Henderson County Orchard Tour, Opportunity House Fun and Fitness Open House, “behind the scenes” tour of Flat Rock Playhouse. The week ends with a downtown walk and brewery visit.

For more information, call 828-251-7438; visit www.activeagingweekwnc.org, or pick up a brochure at either Park Ridge Health or Opportunity House.

Opportunity House fitness event Sept. 26

The Opportunity House at 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, will feature a display of social recreational demonstrations during the Fun and Fitness open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26.

Participating demonstrations include Chayon Ryu (a form of martial arts) by Jane Reinoso, line dancing led by Nancy Glover, clogging with the Southern Connection Cloggers and instructor Chip Summey, and tango dancing performed by Eira Patnail and Jim Curtis.

The activity rooms will be open during the open house. Also, a local winery will offer wine tasting during the event.

Call 828-692-0575 or visit www.opportunityhouse.org for more information.

Forge Mountain group joins Park Ridge Health

Dr. Robert Smith and the team at Forge Mountain Medicine has joined the Park Ridge Health network of care providers.

Smith is board-certified in family medicine and has been providing care in Western North Carolina for 15 years.

A Maryland native, Smith earned his medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed his residency in family medicine at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Joining the team at Forge Mountain Medicine is Paula Hunter, P.A.- C. Hunter is a certified physician assistant with a combined 17 years of experience in family medicine and OB/ GYN care. She has been working in the region since 1996, and is excited to re-enter the field of family medicine after seven years with Park Ridge OB/GYN.

Hunter and her husband live in Brevard and enjoy trail running and backpacking the Blue Ridge mountains. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree through the physician assistant program at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. Visit www.parkridgehealth. org or call 855-774-5433 for more information.

ASHEVILLE

Straighten Up class on Sept. 30

Dr. Jenn Cournover will offer a Straighten Up America class from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at her chiropractic office at 1278B Hendersonville Road in Asheville.

With World Spine Day just around the corner on Oct. 16, it is time to begin celebrating spinal health. Individuals are experiencing greater levels of spinal discomfort and disability related to stress and poor posture, and the Straighten Up America initiative is designed to address this.

Many people, including children and adolescents, commonly work and play in cramped, awkward, slouched postures. The resulting pandemic of work and recreation-related chronic spinal disorders can compromise the quality of life.

Additional Straighten Up America classes will be offered on the second Monday of the month in upcoming months.

Call 828-230-7253; email drjenn@drjennasheville.com or visit www.drjennasheville.com for more information.

<p>ASHEVILLE</p><p>Support group for those with eating disorders</p><p>Balance Point Collaborative at 263 Haywood St., Suite 100, in Asheville is hosting “New Voice,” a peer-led support group for those in recovery from eating disorders, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month.</p><p>Every month, speakers will share their stories of hope and success. Speakers include staff, former clients and community members. There will also be topic-centered and open discussion among participants.</p><p>The recovery support groups are run by handselected peers who have shown a willingness and desire to continue their path to recovery and have personal experience with eating disorders.</p><p>For more information, call 828-348-6922 or visit www.balancepointnc.com.</p><p>BREVARD</p><p>Parkinson's group fundraiser on Sunday</p><p>The second Brevard-Hendersonville Parkinson's Support Group's Team Fox Celebration for the Cure will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Thomas Hall, behind Whittington Pfohl Auditorium at Brevard Music Center.</p><p>The festivities in Thomas Hall will include the music of Terry Wetton. Kiwi Gelato will be on site.</p><p>Chris Sparks, who compiled a book of cartoons in honor of his friend, Richard Thompson, who has Parkinson's, will autograph his books. “Cul de Sac” has been nominated for many book/cartoon awards and is the force behind the Michael J. Fox Foundation Team Cul de Sac.</p><p>Raffle drawings begin at 3 p.m. Included in the prizes are two tickets to the Biltmore House, two tickets to the Oct. 20 Carolina Panthers game against the St. Louis Rams, a Green River Adventure for two, half-day guided fly fishing for two, a gift basket from Dugan's pub valued at $140, Connestee Falls golf for four and club cash for lunch, $75 gift certificate to the Purple Onion in Saluda and gift certificates from businesses in Brevard, Hendersonville and Asheville.</p><p>In past years, the group has raised more than $25,000 to be matched by a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The foundation keeps 88 percent of all funds raised for Parkinson's Research. Donations can be made online at www2.michael jfox.org/goto/B-HPDSG walk or send to B-HPDSG, P.O. Box 1092, Hendersonville, NC 28739. Make checks payable to MJFF (Michael J. Fox Foundation). Call 828-862-8820 for more information.</p><p>BRCHS earns Gold Seal from Joint Commission</p><p>Blue Ridge Community Health Services has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval by demonstrating compliance with national standards for health care quality and safety as a primary care medical home.</p><p>Since 1975, The Joint Commission has developed state-of-the-art standards for outpatient ambulatory care organizations and physician offices. Nearly 1,900 freestanding ambulatory care organizations maintain Joint Commission accreditation.</p><p>The Joint Commission's ambulatory care standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of an ambulatory care organization.</p><p>This recognition establishes BRCHS as the only health care provider in WNC that has achieved certification for both health care quality and safety, as well as for being a PCMH.</p><p>The Joint Commission's ambulatory PCMH designation helps accredited ambulatory care organizations ensure their patients receive timely and appropriate treatment, increase patient satisfaction, improve patient outcomes and reduce the overall costs to the health care system.</p><p>Call 828-692-4289 or visit www.brchs.com for more information.</p><p>Active Aging Week starts Monday</p><p>Active Aging Week begins Monday with a regional Wellness Expo at the Biltmore Square Mall, 800 Brevard Road, Asheville. The expo attracts hundreds of local resources for “aging well” and seniors interested in exploring regional resources.</p><p>All subsequent events will take place in Henderson County and will include a tour of Bullington Gardens, balance screenings, Fletcher Community Park Energi Fitness Tutorial and Walk, Henderson County Orchard Tour, Opportunity House Fun and Fitness Open House, “behind the scenes” tour of Flat Rock Playhouse. The week ends with a downtown walk and brewery visit.</p><p>For more information, call 828-251-7438; visit www.activeagingweekwnc.org, or pick up a brochure at either Park Ridge Health or Opportunity House.</p><p>Opportunity House fitness event Sept. 26</p><p>The Opportunity House at 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, will feature a display of social recreational demonstrations during the Fun and Fitness open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26.</p><p>Participating demonstrations include Chayon Ryu (a form of martial arts) by Jane Reinoso, line dancing led by Nancy Glover, clogging with the Southern Connection Cloggers and instructor Chip Summey, and tango dancing performed by Eira Patnail and Jim Curtis.</p><p>The activity rooms will be open during the open house. Also, a local winery will offer wine tasting during the event.</p><p>Call 828-692-0575 or visit www.opportunityhouse.org for more information.</p><p>Forge Mountain group joins Park Ridge Health</p><p>Dr. Robert Smith and the team at Forge Mountain Medicine has joined the Park Ridge Health network of care providers.</p><p>Smith is board-certified in family medicine and has been providing care in Western North Carolina for 15 years.</p><p>A Maryland native, Smith earned his medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed his residency in family medicine at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Joining the team at Forge Mountain Medicine is Paula Hunter, P.A.- C. Hunter is a certified physician assistant with a combined 17 years of experience in family medicine and OB/ GYN care. She has been working in the region since 1996, and is excited to re-enter the field of family medicine after seven years with Park Ridge OB/GYN.</p><p>Hunter and her husband live in Brevard and enjoy trail running and backpacking the Blue Ridge mountains. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree through the physician assistant program at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. Visit www.parkridgehealth. org or call 855-774-5433 for more information.</p><p>ASHEVILLE</p><p>Straighten Up class on Sept. 30</p><p>Dr. Jenn Cournover will offer a Straighten Up America class from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at her chiropractic office at 1278B Hendersonville Road in Asheville.</p><p>With World Spine Day just around the corner on Oct. 16, it is time to begin celebrating spinal health. Individuals are experiencing greater levels of spinal discomfort and disability related to stress and poor posture, and the Straighten Up America initiative is designed to address this.</p><p>Many people, including children and adolescents, commonly work and play in cramped, awkward, slouched postures. The resulting pandemic of work and recreation-related chronic spinal disorders can compromise the quality of life.</p><p>Additional Straighten Up America classes will be offered on the second Monday of the month in upcoming months.</p><p>Call 828-230-7253; email drjenn@drjennasheville.com or visit www.drjennasheville.com for more information.</p><p>Compiled from staff reports</p>